The Legendary Eartha Kitt Passes Away at 81

Singer/dancer/actress Eartha Kitt passed away yesterday after her long bout with colon cancer. Kitt was 81.

Eartha Kitt was known in her career as one of the sexiest sought-after women of her time. Kitt was mainly known for her role as "Catwoman" on the 1960s series, Batman. She replaced actress Julie Newmar from 1967-1968.

In the span of her six-decades long career, Eartha won 2 Emmy awards and was nominated for several Tony awards.

Eartha Kitt and her signature "purrrr" will be truly missed.

Jennifer Hudson Lays Her Mother, Brother, and Nephew To Rest!

Academy-award winning actress Jennifer Hudson said her final farewell to her mother, Darnell, brother, Jason, and 7 year-old nephew, Julian, who were all slain in a triple homicide last week. Hudson and her sister, Julia, laid their family members to rest today in a private invitation-only service held at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago.

Many friends and family members were in attendance to show their love and support for Jennifer and her sister, Julia. Among those offering their condolences to the family were: Oprah Winfrey, Patti LaBelle, Usher, Clive Davis, Fantasia. Rev Jesse Jackson, and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.

Fantasia belted out the gospel classic, "Your Grace and Mercy" and referred to the Hudsons as "family". The Rev. Jesse Jackson and Mayor Richard Daley spoke at the funeral after the eulogies were given.

After the funeral ended, the funeral procession was led to the cemetary by horse drawn carriage.
My prayers and deepest sympathy go out to the Hudson family in this time of grief. Stay strong.

Obama's Grandmother Passes Away!

The grandmother of Presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, has lost her battle with cancer. The 86 year-old Madelyn Dunham passed away peacefully at her home in Honolulu, Hawaii late Sunday night. She succumbed to her illness just one day before the election in which her grandson may be announced as our new President of the United States.

Mrs. Dunham raised Obama from his elementary school years throughout his college years.

Obama and his family released this statement today: "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure."

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Def Jam VP Commits Suicide!

Shakir Stewart, Def Jam Executive VP, committed suicide earlier this evening in his Marietta, GA home right outside Atlanta. Stewart was a major figure in the music industry. There have been no other details available about this tragedy as of yet.

Stewart was a major figure in the music industry. He was responsible for many of the talents that we see today. Stewart signed the likes of Young Jeezy and Rick Ross to the Def Jam label. He climbed his way up the ladder with his expertise in choosing great talent.

Stewart had just been given the position as Def Jam VP. He succeeded Jay Z after he stepped down from the position this past summer.

My prayers go out to his family and friends. This is truly a tragedy. You wonder what could make a person with such a promising future and past successes end it all like that...

Friday, October 31, 2008

Jennifer Hudson's Memorial Fund and Family's Funeral Arrangements

Jennifer Hudson and her sister, Julia Hudson, established a foundation to benefit families of slain victims. Here’s the info from the Chicago Sun Times:

The Hudson-King Foundation for Families of Slain Victims will provide basic needs such as food and shelter as well as grief counseling for victims of crime, according to the Jennifer’s publicist. Here is the contact information for the new charity:

Hudson-King Foundationc/o Abrams Garfinkel Margolis Bergson, LLPAttention: William L. Abrams, Esq.237 W. 35th St. 4th FloorNew York, NY 10001

The Hudson family will be holding private funeral services on Monday for Darnell Donerson, Jason Hudson, and Julian King. The invitation-only funeral will be held on the South Side of Chicago at the Apostolic Church of God. An announcement will be made today on whether a public service will be held, according to Hudson Funeral Home, which is handling the funeral arrangements.

Source

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Balfour Is Definitely Involved In the Slaying of Jennifer Hudson's Family!

Some online reports were saying a couple of days ago that William Balfour, Julia Hudson's estranged husband, had been taken off the "major suspect" list in the murders of Darnell Hudson and Jason Hudson and the kidnapping of Julian King, Julia's 7 year-old son, which occurred early Friday morning at the Hudson family home. Yesterday Julian King's body was found on floor of the SUV that was stolen from the Hudson residence during the slayings. Julian suffered two gunshot to the head in addition to prior head trauma. It is now a triple homicide.

1994 Suburban where Julian's body was discovered

Resident out walking his dog and discovered the stolen Suburban


Julian's body being taken to Cook County Medical Examiner

Actress Jennifer Hudson leaving Trump Tower Hotel downtown Chicago headed to Medical Examiner's office to identify her nephew's body

Officials are now saying that when Balfour was asked to take a polygraph test, he refused and asked for a lawyer. Further reports are also saying that Balfour's current girlfriend is now contradicting the alibi of Balfour's whereabouts at the time of the murders that Balfour had given the police earlier. It is true that Balfour was released to state custody for a parole violation, but that does not mean that he is no longer a major suspect in this horrific crime.


Apparently the investigators have been working around the clock on this homicide case and now they are saying that Balfour's girlfriend is now saying that Balfour is definitely involved in the murders of the Hudson family. The stolen SUV was found 2 miles away from Balfour's girlfriend's house.

Jennifer Hudson and other family members were called into the Cook County Medical Examiner's office yesterday to identify the body of her 7 year-old nephew. According to sources, the mood was somber. Hudson had her head bowed, as if in prayer, then she looked up and told the M.E. that the body was that of her nephew.

A prayer service was held for the three slain family members in Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church, where one of Hudson's cousins is a minister.










And on the block where the shootings happened near 70th Street and Yale Avenue, about 100 friends and strangers gathered for a candlelight vigil of song and prayer Monday evening.
Surrounded by stuffed animals, balloons and posters that had grown throughout the day, the crowd sang Jennifer Hudson's song "Spotlight."


On behalf of the Hudson family, the Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church announced establishment of the Hudson-King Domestic Violence Prevention Fund, c/o Seaway Bank and Trust Co., P.O. Box 19522, Chicago, Ill., 60619.

Source

Monday, October 27, 2008

The Dreadful News Has Been Confirmed!

Authorities have confirmed that the body found in the abandoned 1994 white Suburban is the body of Jennifer Hudson's nephew, Julian. Cook County Medical Examiner's office says that the child suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Hudson will be giving a press conference at 5pm cst today. The Chicago Police just conducted a press conference but Hudson was not in attendance. Her personal assistant says that the actress is too distraught at this point.

Story developing...

The Body Of Jennifer Hudson's Nephew Possibly Found!

Police searching for Jennifer Hudson's missing 7 year-old nephew have located the white Suburban that was a part of the kidnapping and double homicide that took place on Friday and resulted in the murder of Hudson's mother and brother.

Chicago Police found the white Suburban on Chicago's Westside and there was a body of a young boy inside. Cook County's Medical Examiner and Chicago Police sent officials to the scene of the white SUV. Television footage shows the tow truck carrying the white suv being escorted by police.

Police are not commenting at this time.

Developing story...

****UPDATE****

According to many online reports, William Balfour, Julia King's estranged husband and "person of interest" in the double homicide has been released from police custody. Instead he has been turned over to state custody for a parole violation, which may result in him being released altogether this week or early next week. Apparently, Balfour is no longer a suspect in the murders that took place on Friday at the home of actress Jennifer Hudson's mother.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

More Updates On Jennifer Hudson's Family Tragedy!

According to news sources, Hudson's brother-in-law, William Balfour, was taken into police custody last night in reference to the double murder where Hudson's 57 year-old mother, Darnell and 29 year-old brother, Jason were brutally murdered in their home.

Balfour and Julia in happier times

Balfour is a major suspect in the deaths at this time. Julian, Balfour's 7 year-old son with Hudson's sister, Julia, is still missing. Investigators believe that the child was a witness in the murders. Police have issued an Amber alert for the child. Investigators are saying that after hours of interrogation, Balfour is still refusing to tell them the whereabouts of the child. And there is still no word on the whereabouts of Jennifer's sister, Julia.

7 year-old Julian King, Jennifer's missing nephew

Hudson pictured with mother and sister, Julia

Monique Bond with Chicago Police Department has also said that there are several others in custody who are being questioned along with Balfour. But she declined to go into detail.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Dr. Dre's Son Found Dead in California Home!

Rap pioneer Dr. Dre has suffered an extreme loss.

His 20 year-old son, Andre Romel Young, Jr. was found dead in his Woodlands, CA home this past weekend. When reports first surfaced, no one was sure that he was actually the son of the rapper. But, now a spokesperson for Dr. Dre has confirmed that this is the rapper's son.

Apparently, Andre had gotten home at 5:30 am Saturday after being out with some friends. His mother says that she heard him come into the house and she heard him moving around in his bedroom. When she had awakened for the morning, she went into her son's room to check on him around 10:30 am and found that he was unresponsive. Andre's mother immediately dialed 911 and he was pronounced dead on the scene.

As of right now, the cause of death is unknown. There is an autopsy being conducted. Officials say that they don't think any foul play was involved.

My Prayers go out to the family.